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Weather looks certain to suit Sea The Stars.

The weather forecast for the Paris area for the next week suggests dry conditions with maybe the odd shower, and in theory this should create good to fast ground at Longchamp - conditions which will suit race favourite Sea The Stars.

However, call us old cynics, but as the majority of the french horses would prefer no worse than good ground, we suspect Longchamp will be very liberal with their watering policy for the rest of this week, and John Oxx would be sensible not to run Sea The Stars if he suspects conditions have been deliberately engineered against his five time Group 1 winner.

Collins gives rivals cold comfort over Arctic Middle Park run.

Tracy Collins believes we have only seen the tip of the iceberg in relation to Arctic's true ability, and with the son of Shamardal having been supplemented for Friday's Middle Park Stakes it will be interesting to see if his solid form on a softer surface transfers to better going. The handler has no doubt his four and a half length Round Tower Stakes winner will be even better if obtaining a sound surface for this week's Shadwell Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket.

If this does prove to be the case, Arctic could freeze his rivals out of favouritism for next year's 2,000 Guineas back at Newmarket. So the question appears to be - Does the Iceman cometh?

Top three year old fillies could clash in Sun Chariot.

At today's five day decleration stage Ghanaati, Rainbow view and Fantasia are all on course to renew their rivalry over a mile in Saturday's Kingdon of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket.

The Barry Hills trained Ghanaati will be hoping to regain the kind of form which saw her demolish her rivals in the Newmarket 1,000 Guineas and the Coronation Stakes. But after a good run in the Nassau Stakes, Rainbow view showed she is back to her best with a good win in the Group 1 Matron Stakes on her last outing, while Fantasia indicated she might be back to her best when very impressive in a Listed seven furlong contest at Doncaster's St Leger meeting.

The other three year old fillies of note may be Sir Michael Stoute's multiple Listed winner Strawberry Daiquri, and french filly Reggane, the latter having made late progress when chasing Ghanaati home at Royal Ascot.

The older fillies are represented by the Cheveley Park pair of the ever consistant Heaven Sent and the enigmatic Spacious, while Mick Channon and Dermot Weld are represented respectively by Eva's Request and Mad About You.

However, the french pair of Alnadana and Sahpresa have won at Maison Laffitte and Longchamp respectively, and they come from stables which will not be sending them to Newmarket for a day out.

O'Brien upbeat about Rip Van Winkle.

Aidan O'Brien has reported Rip Van Winkle appears to have come out of Saturday's Queen Elizabeth II Stakes victory with no discernable problems, and this upbeat appraisal would suggest the dual Group 1 winner could now be on course to head to California in November, where a tilt at the Breeders Cup Classic could be a distinct possibility.

Leading horses still in Cambridgeshire shake up.

At today's five day decleration stage, all of the leading fancies for Saturday's first leg of the Autumn Double remain declared to run.

However, David Simcock has made it abundantly clear, Bushman is very doubtful unless there is some rain at Newmarket before the start of Saturday's Cambridgeshire, and the anti post favourite with some bookmakers could be joined in a late withdrawal by other leading fancies if the ground becomes too fast.

Gosden will make final decision.

Despite their annoyance with France Gallop over the failure of their appeal against the demotion of Dar re mi in the Prix Vermeille, owners Lord and Lady Webber are leaving it up to trainer John Gosden to decide if he will run the filly in this sunday's Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe back at Longchamp.

>>>>>> Editors comment -

At Racingsight, we are of the opinion, if Dar re mi has a realistic chance of finishing in the first three in Sunday's race, then John Gosden should go for it.

Winter quarters beckon for Lady Darshaan.

Stan Moore was very happy with Lady Darshaan's second in the Meon Valley Stud Fillies Mile at Ascot on Saturday, particularly as his filly obtained an inadvertant slap across her head from winning jockey Neil Callan during the closing stages of the race.

Discussing his current plans for his suprise package juvenile filly, Moore indicated she would almost certainly now go away for the winter, but as he said,

"Having a filly like her in the stable will make the winter short!"

Hannon considering foreign options for talented fillies.

With no options left in Britain or Ireland for Doncaster winner The Miniver Rose, Richard Hannon is hopeful connections will agree to supplement her for the Prix Chaudenay at Longchamp. Explaining his reasons, Hannon said,

"The one mile seven furlong trip would be ideal for her, and it would be nice to sign off with a double, particularly as we do not know whether we will get her back next season, or if she is to go to the racehorses in training sales."

Discussing Full Mandate, the talented filly who finished as runner up in yesterday's Goffs Million Sprint at the Curragh, Hannon said,

"Taking into consideration her second place behind Lady of the Desert, and yesterday's run, it is obvious she has put in two very good performances on flat tracks, and would be suited by the track and conditions at Santa Anita, so a run at the Breeders Cup could be a distinct possibility."

De Kock hoping for Eagle swoop in Hong Kong.

Since his win in last December's Hong Kong Cup, Eagle Mountain has had to sit on the sidelines after a ligament injury threatened his whole career, but the former Ballydoyle inmate is now reported to be back in training at de Kock's stables at Newmarket, and if all goes according to schedule, the South African trainer is hopeful he can get his five year old back to full fitness in time to defend his title in Hong Kong.

Head confident Goldikova can shine again.

Freddie Head has today issued an upbeat statement about his super filly Goldikova as she goes in search of a seventh Group 1 win in this Saturday's Prix de la Foret at Longchamp.

"She seems in the same form and condition as she showed before her win in the Prix Jacques le Marois, and she has the speed to stay with them over Saturday's seven furlongs, so currently I have no worries.

If everything goes to plan, and she comes out of Saturday's race without injury, I would expect we will go back to California to defend her Breeders Cup Mile title."

Owen to send runners to Tim Vaughn.

Currently lieing second in the national hunt trainers title race with 51 winners, Tim Vaughn's star is certainly in its ascendency, and his fortunes were given another boost today when Manchester United forward Michael Owen confirmed he is sendin two horses to Vaughn for training as an interest during the national hunt season.

It is understood the initial horse Holoko Heights has already been despatched to Vaughn for training as a novice hurdler, and another horse will follow during the next few weeks. Speaking about the move, Michael Owen sid,

"I will concentrate the majority of my effort into flat racing, but I would like to have some interest during the national hunt season, and Tim Vaughn seems to be the man in form, so I am happy he will be training a couple of horses on my behalf."

Henderson due to return with largest ever team.

During yesterday's Open Day at Nicky Henderson's Sevenbarrows yard, the trainer confirmed, after his three month ban from entering runners, he is very much looking forward to having his first representatives at Ffoslas races on Sunday 11 October. Despite his condemnation and ban from the BHA, Henderson told reporters he has actually had to build eight new boxes during his hiatus, and will re-start his training career with his largest ever contingent of over one hundred and sixty horses.

Binocular eyeing Boylesports International return.

When asked yesterday about his plans for top class hurdler Binocular, trainer Nicky Henderson suggested the Boylesports International Hurdle at Cheltenham on 12 December would be his likely first objective,

"He won the race last year when it was transferred to Ascot, and despite other people's reservations about Binocular's capability of dealing with the Cheltenham hill, I have no doubt he will take it in his stride."

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